Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3
68 Imaging
44 Features
33 Overall
39


86 Imaging
57 Features
60 Overall
58
Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 6MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Screen
- ISO 200 - 3200
- Pentax KAF Mount
- 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
- Launched August 2005
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 16000
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
- Introduced August 2012
- Superseded the Sony NEX-C3
- Later Model is Sony NEX-3N

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview
Following is a in depth analysis of the Pentax ist DS2 versus Sony NEX-F3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the ist DS2 (6MP) and NEX-F3 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

The ist DS2 was launched 8 years earlier than the NEX-F3 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the ist DS2 matches up against the NEX-F3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax ist DS2 & Sony Alpha NEX-F3. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax ist DS2 Gallery & Sony NEX-F3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Sony NEX-F3
ist DS2 | NEX-F3 |
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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Pentax ist DS2
NEX-F3 | ist DS2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | August 2012 | ![]() | August 2005 | More modern by 85 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 210k | Crisper display (+710k dot) |
Common features in the Pentax ist DS2 and Sony NEX-F3
ist DS2 | NEX-F3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial exact focusing | ||
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lacking selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Lacking Touch friendly display |
Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax ist DS2 has external measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs) and the Sony NEX-F3 has sizing of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).
Check out the Pentax ist DS2 versus Sony NEX-F3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the ist DS2 versus the NEX-F3.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ist DS2 and NEX-F3 is 68 and 86 respectively.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it's tough to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking a spec sheet. The picture here may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ist DS2 and NEX-F3.
Clearly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony NEX-F3 to give you extra detail utilizing its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged ist DS2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications
Pentax ist DS2 | Sony Alpha NEX-F3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Pentax | Sony |
Model type | Pentax ist DS2 | Sony Alpha NEX-F3 |
Type | Advanced DSLR | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Launched | 2005-08-22 | 2012-08-16 |
Physical type | Mid-size SLR | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 23.5 x 15.7mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 369.0mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 6 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 3008 x 2008 | 4912 x 3264 |
Max native ISO | 3200 | 16000 |
Min native ISO | 200 | 200 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Total focus points | 11 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Pentax KAF | Sony E |
Number of lenses | 151 | 121 |
Crop factor | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Screen sizing | 2.5 inches | 3 inches |
Screen resolution | 210k dots | 920k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT Xtra Fine LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical | Electronic (optional) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.64x | - |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30 secs | 30 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | 3.0fps | 6.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | - | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | - | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | No | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 605 grams (1.33 pounds) | 314 grams (0.69 pounds) |
Dimensions | 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") | 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | 73 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 22.7 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 12.3 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1114 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 470 shots |
Battery style | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | 4 x AA | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/MMC card | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Pricing at release | - | $470 |